Witnesses told investigators that Varos and Sonia, the mother of Brian Swartz’s three children, had been intimate for about eight months.

The last time anyone heard from Swartz was on July 21, when the wife of Swartz’s brother talked to him by phone.

When the family didn’t hear from him for several weeks, they weren’t overly concerned because Swartz often would not talk to his family for weeks, said Bravo.

On Aug. 11, Bravo said Pueblo police received a tip on their crime stoppers hotline that the disappearance should be investigated.

Sonia’s story continued to be that Swartz was heavily involved in marijuana trafficking and owed money to Mexican drug dealers. She said four Mexicans came to the home, abducted Swartz, took his van and also many of his belongings, including a TV, videos and video games, said Bravo.

Sonia said the kidnappers were headed to Mexico with her common-law husband.

The mystery deepened when Pueblo authorities found Swartz’s van broken down and without occupants in New Mexico.

Raton, N.M,. authorities found the van about a week after Swartz’s sister-in-law last talked to him.

On Sept. 4, a pheasant hunter was in far western Pueblo County when he saw a hip bone protruding from a shallow grave. Subsequent examination showed it was Swartz’s remains.

Pueblo police then executed two search warrants – one on a storage unit and the other at Sonia Mitchell’s home. At both locations, police found blood and other evidence pointing directly at Sonia, her sister, and her lover, said Bravo.

All three have been booked into the Pueblo County Jail for investigation of first-degree murder. Bond for each is set at $1 million.

Bravo said that during the investigation it was established that Swartz was a drug dealer who had specialized in marijuana trafficking for a considerable amount of time.

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